Card holding device for use in visible card indexes



E. W. TAYLOR Feb. 27, 1934.

CARD HOLDING DEVICE FOR USE IN VISIBLE CARD INDEXES Filed Aug. 19, 1931 5 .3. Fly

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mvzm'oa EDGAR W. THY 0e BY a: f,

ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 27, 1934 UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE was HOLDING DEVICE FOR USE IN VISIBLE CARD INDEXES pany of Great Britain Application August 19, 1931, Serial No. 557,968 In Great Britain August 23, 1930 1 Claim.

This invention relates to card holding devices for use in visible card indexes of the type in which a series of cards are mounted in overlapping relationship in a frame or holder, the cards being individually hinged by metal hinge plates to separate flexible rods or bars the ends of which can be sprung into engagement with suitable guides or channels in the said frame or holder. The object of the present invention is to provide improved means whereby the cards may be readily attached to or removed from the supporting rods and hinges without detaching the hinge plates from the said rods, thus enabling any particular card to be easily removed and replaced by another while utilizing the same supporting rod and hinge fittings.

According to the invention the card holding devices or hinge fittings consist of folded metal plates in the form of spring card clips hinged upon the supporting rod or bar by their folded portions and each comprising a spring part or tongue upon the one side carrying a ratchetshaped projecting part adapted to pass through an aperture in the card and to interlockingly engage an aperture or recess in the opposite side of the folded plate. By inserting the card between the two sides of the clip, the projecting part can be caused to snap into engagement with the aperture in the card in order to hold the latter to the rod; the shouldered or more steeply inclined side of the ratchet projection being presented towards the fold of the clip, the more gradually inclined side being presented downwards, so that by pushing up the card, the edge of the aperture in the latter can ride up the incline and push back the projecting part, when the card can be detached by a lateral movement.

Figure 1 of the accompanying drawing represents a front view of an index card attached to a supporting rod by clips in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is a back view showing the clips on a larger scale.

Figure 3 is a vertical section through the card and one of the clips on line 3-3, Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a simi ar View showing how the card can be disengaged from the clip.

Figure 5 is an elevation showing the card and clip separated.

Figure 6 represents the separated card and clip in section. a

In carrying out the preferred form of the invention, as shown in the drawing, the card support may consist of a spring-wire rod 1, or other suitable supporting bar, having suitable terminal parts 2 at opposite ends adapted to be sprung into engagement with guide channels at opposite sides of a frame or tray, in the known manner. A card 3 is adapted to be hinged to the rod 1 or other supporting bar at two or more points along its upper edge by means of hinge fittings in the form of spring clips 4. Each clip 4 con sists of a thin spring-steel plate folded upon itself so that the sides engage together with a resilient pressure. The fold or bend of the clip is enlarged or shaped upon opposite sides to form a hinge sleeve 5 which is adapted to surround the rod 1 and turn freely thereon when the clip is sprung on to the rod. The rear side 6 of the clip is pref erably narrower than the front 7, being in the form of a tongue, and is provided near its lower free end with a transverse raised rib 8 pressed up from the said back tongue so as to project from the front face of the said rear side. In the front side '7 of the clip a transverse slot 9 is provided opposite to and adapted to be engaged by the rib. The upper side of the rib forms a square shoulder 10 with the face of the rear side of the clip and is opposed to the fold of the latter, but the lower part is gradually inclined or bevelled. at 11, giving a ratchet formation. The card 3 is provided, near its upper edge near opposite ends, with aligned longitudinal slots 12 parallel to the said edge and similar or slightly greater in length than the rib 8 on the clip.

To attach the card to the clips its upper edge is engaged between the sides of the clips and pushed upwards, thereby riding up the inclined surfaces 11 of the ribs 8 and pushing back the said ribs and the rear sides of the clips until the slots 12 in the card register with the ribs, when the latter spring forward and snap or pass through the said slots and also interlockingly engage the slots 9 in the front side of the clips, as shown in Figure 3. The card is thus locked to the clips on the rod, and to detach the same it is pushed upwards further, as shown in Figure 4, so that the lower edges of the card slots 12 ride over the inclined parts 11 of the ribs 8 and push back the said ribs out of engagement with the card slots, when the card can be slid laterally out of the clips. By making the one side 6 of the clip shorter and narrower than the other side, as illustrated, the two sides may be more easily moved aside by the edge of the card during the insertion of the latter.

Instead of the front sides of the clips having slots 9, they may be provided with recesses in their rear faces for engagement by the ribs 8.

projection having two sides one of which is disposed at right angles to the plane of the card to form an abrupt shoulder adapted to engage the top edge of the card aperture to form a positive support for the card, the other side having a gradual inclination to enable it to wipe over the lower edge of the card aperture by moving the card upward, so that the clip may be disengaged from said card by an upward and lateral movement of said card.

EDGAR WORRALL TAYLOR. 

